Terry Goddard Okays New Voting Procedures

(Phoenix, Ariz. – August 17, 2005)  Attorney General Terry Goddard today approved new voting procedures and identification requirements to comply with Proposition 200.  

In his approval letter to the Secretary of State, Goddard clarified a number of details that were unclear or ambiguous in the Secretary of State’s proposed procedures.

After the Governor approves the procedures and ID rules, Goddard will forward them to the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice for approval.  Goddard is requesting an expedited review so local election officials could put the procedures in place for the November elections.

After Proposition 200 was approved by voters last November, the Attorney General’s Office has sought to rapidly implement all of its provisions:

  • Goddard issued a legal opinion 10 days after the November election defining what benefits are subject to the new law.
  • Goddard submitted the new law to the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division for expedited approval under the Voting Rights Act.  DOJ approved the new law within six weeks. 
  • Goddard obtained approval from the Department of Justice for the updated voter registration form to comply with Proposition 200.
  • Goddard issued a legal opinion indicating that an Arizona driver’s license or a state-issued ID card obtained after October 1, 1996, satisfied the citizenship identification requirement to register to vote.
  • The Attorney General’s Office has defended the new law against legal challenges in both state and federal courts. It has prevailed in every instance.

A copy of the approval letter is attached.

Letter719.2 KB